Sesame Workshop to develop new channel with Comcast, HIT

I was just in Stop & Shop, and I actually saw a video that was put out by HIT Entertainment, and it had Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder, Barney, Kipper, Rubbadubbers, and some other stuff I had never heard of. So I am assuming that this new channel will be very similar. Note: it does NOT have SS at all. And also, it said "Vol. 2." So, there is still hope that this channel will have SS, but unfortunately, right now, it looks like it's just going to be very similar to Noggin.

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Why WOULD a HIT video have Sesame on it? They dont have the rights! The fact a HIT video has no Sesame has nothing to with the channel. The channel will be Sesame Workshop stuff AND HIT stuff. Going by a video where it would be impossible to put Sesame on to determine whats on the channel is odd.

I was just in Stop & Shop, and I actually saw a video that was put out by HIT Entertainment, and it had Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder, Barney, Kipper, Rubbadubbers, and some other stuff I had never heard of. So I am assuming that this new channel will be very similar. Note: it does NOT have SS at all. And also, it said "Vol. 2." So, there is still hope that this channel will have SS, but unfortunately, right now, it looks like it's just going to be very similar to Noggin.

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ssetta Hopefully HIT won't PULL a Noggin On Us Old Classic SS Fans!! I'm Thinking They will probably Show MORE of the Classic Stuf from the early 70's These time around!! Noggin Only did a few classic 70's skits But More of the 80''s!! I'm Going to wait &see I'm crossing my fingers that They will air More seasons Of SS then Noggin did!!

You guys are acting like HIT has the same control as Nick did in Noggin. Based on what we see it looks both Sesame and HIT have equal stakes in the channel unlike Noggin so HIT really cant force Sesame to not show old programming. Plus HIT isnt like Nick at all, HIT has plenty of older loved kids shows too they probably want to show like Fraggle or Thomas the Tank Engine. But the main thing is HIT doesnt have the majority control like Nick did in Noggin from what we seen.

WE are Not saying HIT is going to be Like Noggin, what SSetta & some of the others are getting at is Maybe HIT will show MORE Classic SS from the 70's than Noggin did!! sure they can show Fraggle rock ect..... Thats their choice! But I would Love too see More Classic SS from the mid 70's Is all

My point is why would HIT SHOW them. HIT isnt the channel owner like Noggin is! HIT owns it with Sesame Workshop. HIT can't control what Sesame does really just as much as Sesame can control them. They own the thing together unlike Noggin. How can HIT show it when its not their channel to control?

News that Comcast Corp. is preparing to bow an around-the-clock preschool network through a joint venture with PBS, Sesame Workshop and HIT Entertainment plc raises a number of questions within the programming and distribution communities.

The commercial-free network, which could get off the ground as early as next year, would compete for the attention of preschoolers and their parents in an already crowded arena occupied by PBS; Nickelodeon’s “Nick Jr.” block and Noggin channel; and “Playhouse Disney” fare on Disney Channel.

Comcast and Sesame Workshop executives declined to comment. HIT executives could not be reached for comment by press time.

At its essence, some doubt there is a need for a round-the-clock network aimed at preschoolers. “These are little kids and they go to bed early. I can see maybe something that runs 12 to 14 hours,” said one programmer. “Viewing among young kids definitely goes down later in the day.”

Indeed, two years back, Disney Channel was mulling turning Playhouse Disney into its own service. ABC Cable Networks Group instead opted to package the block as part of its “Disney on Demand “subscription offering to Cablevision Systems Corp.’s digital customers.

Whatever shape the linear network takes, it figures to benefit from a promotional push via a video-on-demand iteration by Comcast.

“There are a lot of agreements to work through, but VOD rights are a big component in the discussions about the 24/7 linear channel,” a source familiar with the negotiations said. VOD iterations seem likely to serve as a precursor to a linear launch.

While the network presumably would have rights to Sesame Street , as well as such HIT fare as Barney and Friends , Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends , that might not be enough at the negotiating table, according to one MSO executive.

“What, are Sesame Street and Barney not going to be available on PBS anymore?” he asked. “Even if you’re going to ask for pennies [per month] for a digital service, the expectation is that there has to be original programming. Let’s see what they come up with.”

Others want to know how HIT would square its relationships with PBS and Nickelodeon. “Barney ’s been on PBS forever and Bob The Builder has been a staple on Nick,” said the programming executive. “Are they going to limit their access to outlets that have greater reach by being part of this network?”

Noggin — originally half-owned by Sesame Workshop — still airs some of the programmer’s shows: 123 Sesame delves into the Sesame Street archives, while Play With Me Sesame is a co-production between the parties.

Tom Ascheim, executive vice president of Nickelodeon Digital Television, described Noggin’s relationship with Sesame Workshop as “deep, complicated and meaningful. They are a very good partner. I’m just wondering out loud if Comcast knows the nature of the relationship.”

He said provisions for library fare extend into the fall of 2005, while the production relationship runs longer, as evidenced by Play With Me Sesame rights through 2009. “We’re considering a third season of the series and various other projects,” he said.

News of the 24-hour preschool network was first reported June 9 by The Wall Street Journal .

Anyway, I'm just confused about this news. It says "Toddler prgramming", so I wonder if that means it will show only more current SS's (s's's'..s'?). And then if history repeats itself, how long will it take when crap like Barney eclipses SS's run on that network?

And even still, isn't Baloney the Dinosaur on TV enough as it is? I mean, does anyone even care? I thought he was just a 90's throwback....

Sigh... I hate "wait and see news"... first the SS toy line in limbo... and then we have to wait until whenever to see what Disney will do with the Muppets... sigh...

Although I can see how one would be a little agitated over the discrepencies in these channels, but at least you GET these channels! I have cable, but no sattelite dish to receive either HIT or Noggin. We had Sesame Place (Canadian) which lasted all of what? a couple years? Granted, every now and then you'd be lucky to see the Pinball aniomation segment...
Quibble if you must but at least be happy that you have the opportunity to view the classics.